Preparing flowers for natural drying takes five to 10 minutes. And if you pick the flowers from your garden, it's free.

Here are drying tips:

• Certain fragrant flowers and flowering herbs retain their scent when dried,
including sweet Anne lavender, yarrow, stock, pennyroyal and some of
the older rose varieties such as bourbons, centifolias, damasks and
gallicas. Jasmine, peonies and pinks also dry well if you're trying to
add color to potpourri.

• Choose flowers in early or full bloom.

• Gather flowers in small bunches so heads remain separated. Big bunches can mold or rot.

• Hang bunches upside down from a wire or cord
across the ceiling of a warm, dry room with good air circulation. You
can hang them from a ladder or, for potpourri, spread individual petals
on a screen that allows air above and below.

• Keep drying flowers out of direct sun to prevent
fading, though some fading and browning is normal. Leave plenty of space
between individual bunches. A fan will dry them faster.

• Be sure stems and flowers are dry before turning upright.
With roses, for example, the thick part of the stem near the head
should be fully dried or flowers will flop. Drying times vary depending
on plant and humidity.

• Mice nibble on dried flowers, so store them between layers of tissue paper in a covered box or keep them hanging until you arrange them.

• Arrange as you would regular flowers, but be aware of their fragility. Because they are delicate, display them out of the way of kids and pets.